Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton's population grew between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in health, ethnicity and marriage.

The population reached nearly quarter of a million

Between the last two censuses, the population of Wolverhampton increased by 5.5%, from almost 237,000 to 249,000.

The addition of just under 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wolverhampton was home to, on average, 26 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the West Midlands' third-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Wolverhampton

Latest census data also show that the median age of Wolverhampton remained 37 years in the decade to 2011.

This multi-cultural area had a lower average age than the West Midlands and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 5,900 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 14% of people in Wolverhampton are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wolverhampton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

Wolverhampton saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of unemployed people.

During this period, Wolverhampton overtook 16 local authority areas, including North East Lincolnshire and Newham, to become the English local authority area with the second-highest percentage of unemployed people.

In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (7.9%) people aged 16 to 74 in Wolverhampton said they were unemployed, compared with 5.3% in 2001. The percentage that were employed remained close to 49%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of unemployed people occurred in Barking and Dagenham (from 4.5% to 7.3%).

The rate of unemployment in Wolverhampton increased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Wolverhampton, the West Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton saw the West Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 16 (6.2%) in Wolverhampton reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.8% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.1% to 4.7%.

Across the region, Stoke-on-Trent saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 6.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Wolverhampton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage of Wolverhampton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Wolverhampton decreased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wolverhampton, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

Wolverhampton saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14%) households in Wolverhampton had a single parent, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 33% to 29%.

Across the region, Coventry saw the next largest increase in the proportion of single-parent households (from 12% in 2001 to 14% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of single-parent households, as the regional average grew from 10% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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